
Heavenly were an indie twee pop band, originally forming in Oxford, England in 1989. Amelia Fletcher (vocals/guitar), Mathew Fletcher (drums; Amelia's brother), Peter Momtchiloff (guitar) and Robert Pursey (bass) had all been members of Talulah Gosh, a key member of the C86 scene. In 1996, shortly before the release of their last album, Operation Heavenly, Mathew Fletcher, the band's drummer and Amelia's brother, committed suicide. The remaining members announced that the band name Heavenly was to be retired, but that they would continue, using the name Marine Research, a moniker under which they released a single album, 1999's Sounds From The Gulf Stream, on K Records. Afterwards, Marine Research dissolved. The band's core members reformed in 2002 as Tender Trap, releasing their debut album, Film Molecules, on K Records once again.
Links to Peel[]
Peel played some of Talulah Gosh's tracks in the late 80's and was aware of some of the members, including Amelia Fletcher, who collaborated with many of Peel's favourites, including the Wedding Present. She later joined with Heavenly and the group got substantial airplay by Peel through the 90's, including a couple of sessions, as well as an entry in the 1993 Festive Fifty. After the death of drummer Mathew Fletcher and the band changing their name to Marine Research, Peel continued supporting the new band with airplay and a couple of sessions, as well when the core members of the group reformed as Tender Trap in 2002.
Festive Fifty Entries[]
- 1993 Festive Fifty: Atta Girl #33
Sessions[]
Heavenly - Peel Session. 1991
Two sessions. Released officially on John Peel 14.4.91 2(x7” / digital, 2022, Precious Recordings of London: Pre 006) and John Peel 7.5.94 (2x7” / digital, 2022, Precious Recordings of London: Pre 007).
1. Recorded: 1991-03-17. Broadcast: 14 April 1991. Repeated: 08 June 1991
- And The Birds Aren't Singing / So Little Deserve / Escort Crash On Marston Street
2. Recorded: 1994-04-09. Broadcast: 07 May 1994. Repeated: 05 November 1994
- Sacramento / Itchy Chin / Dumpster / Sperm Meets Egg So What?
Other Shows Played[]
- 1990
Over And Over
- February 1990 (BBC Radio East Anglia): Over And Over (7" - I Fell In Love Last Night) Sarah
- 01 March 1990: Over And Over (b/w 7" - I Fell In Love Last Night) Sarah
- 20 March 1990: Over And Over (7" - I Fell In Love Last Night) Sarah
- 09 December 1990: Our Love Is Heavenly (7") Sarah
- 28 December 1990 (BFBS): Our Love Is Heavenly (7") Sarah
- 30 December 1990: 'Our Love Is Heavenly (7 inch)' (Sarah)
- 1991
Cool Guitar Boy
- 13 January 1991: Shallow (album - Heavenly vs Satan ) Sarah
- 20 January 1991: Lemonhead Boy (album - Heavenly Vs. Satan) Sarah
- 25 January 1991 (BFBS): Cool Guitar Boy (album - Heavenly vs Satan) Sarah
- 26 January 1991: Shallow (album - Heavenly vs Satan) Sarah
- 03 February 1991: Don't Be Fooled (album - Heavenly Vs Satan) Sarah
- 16 February 1991 (BFBS): 'Don't Be Fooled (LP-Heavenly Vs Satan)' (Sarah)
- 23 February 1991: Wish Me Gone (Album: Heavenly Vs. Satan) Sarah
- 16 March 1991 (BFBS): 'Wish Me Gone (LP-Heavenly Vs. Satan)' (Sarah)
- 03 August 1991: So Little Deserve (7") Sarah
- 09 August 1991 (BFBS): So Little Deserve (7") Sarah
- 16 August 1991 (BFBS): So Little Deserve (7") Sarah
- 19 August 1991 (BBC World Service): So Little Deserve (7") Sarah
- 24 August 1991: So Little Deserve (7") Sarah
- 28 December 1991: Shallow (LP - Heavenly Vs. Satan) Sarah
- 1992
Tool
- 12 June 1992: 'Smile' (album - 'Le Jardin De Heavenly') Sarah
- 21 June 1992 (BFBS): 'Smile' (album - 'Le Jardin De Heavenly') Sarah
- 27 June 1992: Smile (album - Le Jardin De Heavenly) Sarah
- 06 July 1992 (Ö3): 'Smile (CD-Le Jardin De Heavenly)' (Sarah)
- 12 July 1992 (BFBS): Tool (LP - Le Jardin De Heavenly) Sarah
- 26 July 1992 (BFBS): Tool (album - Le Jardin De Heavenly) Sarah
- 21 November 1992: So Little Deserve (v/a album - Fountain Island) Sarah
- 06 December 1992 (BFBS): So Little Deserve (LP - Fountain Island) Sarah
- 1993
Atta Girl
- 02 July 1993: ‘P.U.N.K. Girl (7 inch)’ (Sarah)
- 08 July 1993 (Radio Mafia): Hearts and Crosses (7" b/side to P.U.N.K. Girl) Sarah Records
- 09 July 1993: Hearts And Crosses (b/w 7" - P.U.N.K Girl) Sarah
- 10 July 1993 (BFBS): P.U.N.K. Girl (7") Sarah
- 16 July 1993: P.U.N.K. Girl (7") Sarah
- 17 July 1993 (BFBS): Hearts And Crosses (7" - P.U.N.K. Girl) Sarah
- 24 July 1993: Atta Girl (7 inch)’ (Sarah Records)
- Peel Out In The States: P.U.N.K. Girl (7") Sarah
- 02 August 1993 (Ö3): 'Hearts & Crosses (7"-P.U.N.K. Girl)' (Sarah)
- 07 August 1993: ‘Atta Girl (7 inch)’ (Sarah Records)
- 20 August 1993: P.U.N.K. Girl (7" P.U.N.K. Girl) Sarah
- 27 August 1993 (BFBS): P.U.N.K Girl (7") Sarah
- 25 December 1993: 'Atta Girl (7 inch)' (Sarah) FF #33
- 1994
- 21 October 1994: Itchy Chin (album - The Decline And Fall Of Heavenly) Sarah
- 16 December 1994: ‘Skipjack (LP - The Decline & Fall Of Heavenly )’ Sarah
- 1996
Heavenly - Trophy girlfriend
- 07 July 1996: Trophy Girlfriend (album - Operation Heavenly) Wiiija
- 13 July 1996 (BFBS): 'Trophy Girlfriend (LP-Operation Heavenly)' (Wiiija)
- 20 July 1996: Space Manatee (7") Wiiija WIJ 58
- 22 July 1996 (BBC World Service): Trophy Girlfriend (shared 7" with Bis - Keroleen / Trophy Girlfriend) K
- 28 July 1996: ‘Art School (7 inch - Space Manatee )’ Wiiija
- 31 August 1996: By The Way (album - Operation Heavenly) Wiiija WIJLP 1053
- 01 September 1996: K-Klass Kisschase (album - Operation Heavenly) Wiiija WIJLP 1053
- 08 September 1996: Nous Ne Sommes Pas Des Anges (album - Operation Heavenly) Wiiija WIJLP 1053
- 15 September 1996 (BFBS): 'Nous Ne Sommes Pas Des Anges (LP-Operation Heavenly)' (Wiiija)
- 21 September 1996 (BFBS): 'Snail Trail (CD-Operation Heavenly)' (Wiiija)
- 22 September 1996: Space Manatee (7") Wiiija
- 29 September 1996: Ben Sherman (album - Operation Heavenly) Wiiija
- 06 October 1996: Fat Lenny (album - Operation Heavenly) Wiiija WIJLP 1053
- 02 November 1996: 'Snail Trail (LP-Operation Heavenly)' (Wiiija)